Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-18

AT fHE DEBUT.
Thu rumor got abroad that Duke was
in Selma and would be in on tho train.
His wife, who met the committee in his
Office in the morning, had not known
where he was, and nobody could shed
any real light on his whereabouts. II
he came in on any Of the trains nc
got off without being observed, and
The committee came up town to con-
tinue the search in vain. A gentleman
who lives on Coosa street reported that
shortly after dark, as he was coming up
town from supper,
HE SAW DUKE
sitting in q restaurant on Monroe street,
with twelve or fifteen other men. A
delegation went to look for him, but
he had gone.
Later in the night several members
of the Committee of Ten from the pub
lie square saw the colored
LAWYER GARNER
sitting in the Dispatch Office, on cor
ner of Dexter avenue and Court street.
in some way the impression got abroad
that Garner was privy to the article in
the Herald, il not the real author OF
it. The delegation called at the Dis
patch Office and interviewed him. He
was writing a card for publication, but
stopped to disclaim any connection
with the Herald article. One word
led to another, and it all ended in a
purse of 81 or IS being raised then
and there wherewith Garner might pay
his railroad fare as far as it would take
him. He was instructed to take him-
self out OF Montgomery in all possible
haste and to stay out.
Later in the day James Hale called
at the Aducrtiscr Office and brought q
short series of resolutions which had
been adopted by a meeting of promi-
nent colored men
DIsCLAIMING SYMPATHY
with Duke or his paper and condomning
in the strongest terms the article that
is the cause of the present commotion.
The resolutions were unfortunately
misplaced in the Office last night, but
they were as strong in disclaimer as
language could make it. Jim Hale is
one of the leading colored men in the
city, and in talking about the matter
said none of the better class of
colored people countenance Duke.
This is our home" he said,
"and we get along SO peaceable and
nice in Montgomery, and then
TO have q fellow like Duke to come along
and stir up strife and commotion. I'll
declare ] don't know what to do. We
had about got the money raised to Sc
cure our college, and l don't think the
white folks ought to hold rs response
BILE for what this Duke has done"
Professor Patterson, the president OF
the university, called later and re-
GREETED the occurrence. 1--WE know
not what DAY may bring forth, said
he.
At last accounts all was quiet.
One of the theories abroad last night
was that it was q scheme fixed up to
support the bloodthirsty campaign for
the presidency in the North. They
knew where the weak joint of the
southern people was, and hit it. If
the general tenor of the article was
stranger to the Heraid's columns the
theory might have more foundation.
About 2 o'clock last night a tall,
gangliDg negro youth brought into the
advertiser Office the following
CARD FROM DUKE:
Editors AdUeYtiser:
Please let me say through the columns
of your paper that the article copied
from the Heraid and commented upon
by the Dispatch of Sunday, was I'M
fortunate, and that when published it
l had not the remotest idea of rejecting
upon or offending any one, and that L
am very sorry indeed that it ever APP
peared in my paper. l will assure you
and the good people of Montgomery
that | had DO intention whatever to do
wrong, and that | am sorry for what
has happened. / will never do so any
more. Please publish this for me.
am a poor man, and have a wife and
four small children depending upon me
Tor the ir bread. Very respectfully, &C.,
j. G. DUKE.